Combined carrying case and table



June 14, 1949. F N JR 2,473,022

COMBINED CARRYING CASE AND TABLE Filed June 10, 1946 30 I7 3o- |4- I y INVENTOR OTTO E. FENSKE JR.

. 3 BY 7517a ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CARRYING CASE AND TABLE Otto E. Fenske, Jr., Skokie, Ill.

Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 675,652

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in a combined carrying case and table, that is to say, a carrying case which has the appearance and all of the utility of a grip and which is readily and simply convertible into a sturdy table.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described in which a frame member comprises the body of the grip and has strips with beveled edges for cooperating with swinging leaves to form a smooth and unobstructed table top when the device is opened and presents a smooth and unobstructed surface when the device is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel manners for supporting the table top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel structure whereby the table top is rendered smooth and unobstructed, whilst at the same time being amply supported and capable of carryin much weight.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a combined carrying case and table embodying my new invention and showing the device in a closed condition ready Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of my de- I vice in a closed condition taken generally along line s 3 of Fig. 4 and in the indicated direction.

2 the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and in the general direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 and in the eneral direction indicated.

The reference character I ll designates generally the frame member of the case which comprises two end walls II and I2 suitably attached to the top and bottom walls 13 and M respectively. The top wall I3 is provided with a carrying handle l5 secured thereto in any desired manner. The open sides formed by the frame member H] are provided with leaves or panels 16 and I? adapted to be positioned as shown in Fig. 1, closing the open sides of the frame member ID to form a hollow carrying case, or to be positioned as shown in Fig. 2 with the leaves or panels supported in a substantially horizontal plane perpendicular to the frame In to form therewith a table.

It will be noted that to convert the traveling case from a condition shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to a table as shown in Fig. 2, it is necessary to turn same upside down. Thus, the handle I5 is on the bottom of frame If! when the device is used as a table.

For the purpose of securing the leaves or panels [6 and I! in position when the device is closed, that is, forms a traveling case or grip, the top wall I3 is provided with spring catches or clasps l 8 which are adapted to be engaged with the tongues 19 fastened to the leaves I6 and I! on the edges thereof.

Each of the leaves I6 and l! is provided along opposite edges with a strengthening member 20 adapted to assist in framing the panels or sides. Each of the members 20 is provided with an enlarged portion 23 having a pin 24 therein pivotally attaching the leaves l6 and I! to the end walls I l and I2. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that when the leaves I6 and l are folded in closed position over the fram ill, the members 20 serve to enhance the appearance of the case, acting as ornamental trim therefor.

To maintain the leaves It and Il in an open position when the device is serving as a table, there are provided members 25 pivotally attached at 26 to the side walls and which are adapted to engage Within notches 21 provided therefore in members 20. These notches 2'! are substantially riangular in shape and the ends of the members 25 are pointed, as shownat 28 in order to snugly cooperate therewith. In the process of assembly, the members 25 are moved to position, the leaves It and I! raised above the horizontal until the pointed ends 28 can enter notches 21, and then the leaves are lowered seating the ends 28.

When the leaves l6 and I! are in a folded position, the members are placed alongside the side walls I l and I2, and together with the members 20, also serve as ornamental trim. In order to prevent the movement of the members 25 to positions inwardly of the sidewalls I! and I2 and beyond those showninlFig'. '1 while'acting.as:trim,: stop members '29 are provided having pointed ends 2| mitred to engage ends 28. These members 29 are thus also used as ornamental trim.

A cross member 30 is attached to the-frameJllw on either side thereof extending between walls I I and 12 adjacent the pivoted edges of :theleaves l6 and H. The long edges of thesecross mem-. bers are both beveled as shown at 3|"and 32, the edges 32 being flush with the long edges of the-1. bottom wall It. When the leaves I 6 and I! are folded-,the bottom of: the case thusupresentga smooth beveled appearance. The adjacent. edges of.the-leaves l6 and I! are. cooperatively. beveled asashownvat .33--so that when they are opened to horizontal positions as :shown in. Fig. 2 there willbesa smooth closefitting joint where bevels 33' and 32\come together, thereby providing the resultanttable top witha smooth, unobstructed flat-surface.- 1

Whenthe leaves arefoldedto a closed position, the beveled edges33 clearthe member 30 as shown bybrokenlinestin Fig. 4 during rotation, and seat againstethetbeveled edges. 3| of thecross meme bers. 30 .thereby. providing an. unbroken surface forctheiside.-.of the traveling case. The leaveslB-and-H can clear the-members30 because -of the'soffset positions .of the pivot pins 24.

Four-legmembers 34 areprovided for bracingthe device when-used as a table. Each leg meme ber..34--is normally .carried within :the case .and alongsidenthe end walls .I l and I2 of the frame I 0. ,These. members 34,- are pivotally attachedto theiframe l0 .by.- pins 35 which engage in elongated.slots.36 provided insaidmembers 34. The.

pivoted ends of the members 34 are preferably. rounded as at-3'leto permit rotationthereof .while thesoppositewfree endsthereofare mitred as. at 33.50 that when. the legs-are in position for sup-.1-

porting andbiacing the table-as shown inFig. :2, they-maybe .arrangedat aconsiderableangle thereto whereby. a stablemplatform may. be -se-- J cured. The members 34 are each adapted to ro,-.i-

tate-ibetween-theinner. faceof .one ofwthe walls I land. 12. and. a plate member. '39 spaced therefromby a block member 40. The block-member 40 is. provided on oppositesidesthereof and adjacentleachulegamember.34 with a slot 4| (see Fi'glA) which-is of a cross section identicalwithv thatof membe'rs34and which is arranged at an angleto the open face of frame 10. The. slots 41' in'eachblock 40 together with the inner 'faces of'the'respective plate members 39 and side walls lForiZ formsockets-within which the ends of the members 34 are adapted to engageaswill be presently pointed out;

In' moving the leg members 34 to an open position; th'ey' are'first rotated from their initial positiontasishown'in solid lines :in Fig. l4: about pivot pins 35; sotthat1the :free ends -38"pass by the cross member-r38: and .through; cut away. portions 42 of membersi l are-rotated. tothe position-shown by therbroken :lines 43- of..Fig.;4 andthence upto broken: lines .22 of- Fig. 4. Therotative motion. ofathes :members 34 may be limited .by having edges thereof abut against either the edges of the saidmembez-rSOrprpvided' for.thatpurpose. The 270' block 40 or the edges of the wall 13. In order to seat the members 34 in their open position, they are now moved inwardly and translated along their longitudinal axes so that the rounded ends 31 enter and engage within the sockets formed by slots 4| which thereby hold said members rigidly for stabilizing the table. This position is shown by broken lines 44 of Fig. 4. The translating..,movement*is;permittedby reason of the elongated slots 36 provided-in members 34 for cooperation with the pins 35.

From the above description it is believed obvioushow a sportsman or camper or the like may carry divers articles in the case and, when desired,-ziopen-:;said case, removing the articles if necessary, and quickly and readily convert same into a rigid and well supported table. The inside of .thecase'zmay be provided with hooks, clamps, brackets or the like, for the accommodation of accessories,.,supplies,= or. articles of equipment. The case .mayrbe lmade'. from wood, .fabric, synthetic resins,..leather..or sheet metal, or combinations. thereof, without in anyway [departing from the invention..-

It .is .believed-Uthatmy. invention, its mode of construction and assembly,,and many of its advantageszshould be readilyunderstood from the foregoing .,.without. -.furthe'r description, and. it should .Jalsobemanife'st that while a preferred embodiment. .of.thelinvention .has been shown and described.forillustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable. of wide variation within. the .purview of my invention. as defined in .the appended claims.

What .1 iclaimand. desire to secure by Letters Patent .ofthe United States .is

1. .-A..portable' traveling vcase adapted to be readilyzconvertibl'e. into a table. and comprising a rectangular frame member having opposed hinged sidessw-ingable toform the leaves of the table, .members normally carried within said frame..member.and movable to positions constitutingsame-legs, therefor, and bracing members normally carriedrexternally of said frame mem- 'berandmovable topositions. constituting same as the1'eof. present..a substantially. smooth surface.

and whenin' an open position, the leaves present a table tophaving .a smooth surface.

25A portable .traveling caseadapted to be readilyconvertible into a table, and comprising a rectangular frame member having opposed hinged sides .swingable toform the leaves of'the tabla-members normally carried .within said frame .member and movable .to positions constitilting same legs therefonand bracing members normally. carried externallyof said frame member and 'movablefto .positionsconstituting same as braces for. said table leaves, said frame member having a pair'of cross-members extendingbetween .two sides thereofand adjacent the sides to which said leaves are. hinged, said cross-meme bers i having. ,beveled iedgesadapted to cooperate with beveledaedges.providedon.said leaves.- and havingmotched .portions for clearing .the free ends. of ,said .leg memberswhilesame are being movednfriomr closed .to .open. position.

3.'.A. portable. travelinggcase adapted to be readily convertible into a table, and comprisin a rectangular frame member having opposed hinged sides swingable to form the leaves of the table, members normally carried Within said frame member and movable to positions constituting same legs therefor, and bracing members movable to positions constituting same as braces for said table leaves, said frame member having a strip along an edge of each open face thereof parallel to the axis of rotation of said sides, the edges of said strip being beveled, and said leaves each having a beveled edge to cooperate with the beveled edges of the strips, whereby when open the top of the table is smooth, unobstructed and without grooves, and yet when closed the surface of the case is smooth, unobstructed and without 15 grooves.

OTTO E. FENSKE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 518,567 Figgins Apr. 17, 1894 597,662 Williams Jan. 18, 1898 875,195 Loftin Dec. 31, 1907 1,349,634 Stern Aug. 17, 1920 1,499,148 Bradford June 24, 1924 1,659,840 Smith Feb. 21, 1928 2,340,766 Perez Feb. 1, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 567,867 France Dec. 13, 1923 

